Separator for and medication dosage container

ABSTRACT

A medication dosage container having an open mouth, a floor and a sidewall extending from the floor to the mouth has an insert disposed therein, in the container and comprising a floor, a separator and spacing structure spacing the separator from the floor, the insert defining with the container sidewall a compartment for dosage containment, the compartment being inaccessible when the insert is resident in the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to medication dosage control andpertains more particularly to a separator for a medication dosagecontainer having facility for dosage control.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commonly-assigned, copending U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,570 B2 (the '570patent), which issued on Aug. 3, 2004, addresses the so-called“secondary” drug problem, i.e., medication usage errors. As notedtherein, this problem is heightened when one considers that the vastmajority of medication users are elderly and may have vision and memorydifficulties and that many thereof are required to take differentmedicines with different dosages over different time periods.

The '570 patent provides a medicine container, comprising an upstandingbody having an open mouth and a hollow interior bounded by a sidewalland a separator secured in the body and defining upper and lowercompartments, the upper compartment opening into the body open mouth,the lower compartment being accessible while the separator is secured inthe body. In one embodiment, the separator is insertable into a standardmedicine container and has a separating portion defining both a floorfor the upper compartment and a ceiling for the lower compartment. Theseparating portion is pivotally supported to move between positionsopening and closing the lower compartment.

In use of the above-described container of the '570 patent, a multipletime period dosage, e.g., a one-week's supply, of a given medication isinserted into the lower compartment. A lesser time period dosage, e.g.,a one-day's supply, of the given medication is now withdrawn from lowercompartment and is inserted into the upper compartment. A closure memberis thereupon applied to the container and the container is thus set fora one-week supply of medication, removable daily from the uppercompartment. This procedure applies on a weekly basis until the supplyof medication in the lower compartment is depleted.

As noted in the '570 patent, the prior art evidences various approachesseen to address the secondary drug problem. Noted particularly in the'570 patent, with remarks distinguishing the same, are U.S. Pat. No.4,460,106, U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,387, U.S Pat. No. 4,420,083, U.S Pat. No.4,475,654 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,705 B1.

The '570 patent also notes, as prior art, a commercially-availablemedicine container having a cup member defining an upper compartment andremovable from the container to permit access to a lower compartmentcontaining medication.

Copending, commonly-assigned patent application Ser. No. 10/285,163,filed on Oct. 31, 2002, adds to the structure shown in the container ofFIGS. 18 and 19 of the '570 patent the feature of releasably latchingthe hinged separator into its closed position, i.e., wherein it definesthe upper and lower compartments.

More than one year prior to the filing of the subject application, theAssignee hereof publicly divulged the structure shown in the containerof FIGS. 18 and 19 of the '570 patent along with the feature ofreleasably latching the hinged separator into its closed position, i.e.,wherein it defines the upper and lower compartments as shownabove-referenced copending, commonly-assigned patent application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of furtherembodiments of medicine dosage containers adapted to address the“secondary drug” problem.

In attaining this and other objects, the present invention provides, inone aspect, an insert for a medication dosage container having an openmouth, a floor and a sidewall extending from the floor to the mouth, theinsert comprising a floor, a separator (ceiling) and spacing structurespacing the separator from the floor, the insert defining with thecontainer sidewall a compartment for dosage containment when the insertis inserted into the container, the compartment being inaccessible whenthe insert is resident in the container.

The compartment is accessible for dosage removal or insertion uponmovement of the insert such that the separator is disposed outwardly ofthe container mouth. The insert floor and the insert separator aremutually spaced by a distance less than the spacing between thecontainer floor and the container mouth, the insert defining with thecontainer sidewall a further compartment for dosage containment when theinsert is inserted into the container, the further compartment openinginto the container mouth.

In another aspect, the present invention provides, in combination: (a) amedication dosage container having an open mouth, a floor and a sidewallextending from the floor to the mouth; and (b) an insert disposed in thecontainer and comprising a floor, a separator and spacing structurespacing the separator from the floor, the insert defining with thecontainer sidewall a compartment for dosage containment, the compartmentbeing inaccessible when the insert is resident in the container. Theinsert floor and the insert separator are mutually spaced by a distanceless than the spacing between the container floor and the containermouth, the insert defining with the container sidewall a furthercompartment for dosage containment, the further compartment opening intothe container mouth and being accessible upon removal of a containerclosure member.

The foregoing and other features of the invention will be furtherunderstood from the ensuing detailed description of preferredembodiments and practices and from the drawings, wherein like referencenumerals identify like components throughout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a first embodiment of an insert inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan elevation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan elevation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the insert of FIG. 1 as would be seen fromplane V-V of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an assembly of a medication dosagecontainer and the insert of FIGS. 1-5 as would be seen from plane VI-VIof FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a top plan elevation of an assembly of a medication dosagecontainer and the insert of FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan elevation of an assembly of a medication dosagecontainer and the insert of FIGS. 1-5.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an assembly of a medication dosagecontainer and the insert of FIGS. 1-5 as would be seen from plane IX-IXof FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a full sectional view of an assembly of a medication dosagecontainer and the insert of FIGS. 1-5 as would be seen from plane X-X ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an assembly of a medication dosagecontainer and the insert of FIGS. 1-5 with medication loaded therein anda container closure member in place.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an assembly of a medication dosagecontainer and the insert of FIGS. 1-5 with medication loaded therein andwith the closure member removed and the insert moved upwardly in thecontainer.

FIG. 13 is a front elevation of a second embodiment of an insert inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 14 is a top plan elevation of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a bottom plan elevation of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a right side elevation of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the insert of FIG. 13 as would be seenfrom plane XVII-XVII of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND PRACTICES

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, insert 10 includes floor 12 and separator(ceiling) 14, each secured to and mutually spaced by spacing structure16. Open compartment 18 is defined between floor 12 and separator 14and, in this embodiment, spacing structure 16 defines a partialperimetric sidewall of compartment 18. Insert translating member 20includes a gripping member 22 secured to separator 14 by shaft 24.Further, in this embodiment, floor 12 and separator 14 are circular andspacing structure 16 defines a semi-circular sidewall.

Insert 10 may be comprised throughout as a one-piece body of plasticmaterial molded into the illustrated configuration.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-10, medicine dosage container 26 includes floor28 and sidewall 30 extending upwardly of floor 28 to open containermouth 32. Assembly A is reached by inserting insert 12 through mouth 32into the interior hollow of container 26, until insert floor 12 issupported atop container floor 28.

Insert spacing structure 16 is selected to be of a height less than theheight of container sidewall 30, such that a further compartment 34exists atop separator 14, opening into container mouth 32.

Compartment 18 will be seen to be bounded by insert spacing structure 16jointly with container sidewall 30. Further compartment 34 will be seento be fully bounded by container sidewall 30.

Referring now to FIG. 11, assembly A is closed by container closuremember 36 and contains supplies of medication dosages (pills) 38 and 40respectively in compartment 18 and further compartment 34. This loadedstate of assembly A is attained by (1) translating insert 10 upwardlyfrom its disposition in FIG. 6 such that the opening into compartment18, i.e., the perimeter thereof not bounded by insert spacing structure16, is at least in part above container sidewall 30, as is shown in FIG.12, (2) inserting medication dosage 38 into compartment 18 (lowercompartment), (3) returning insert 10 to its FIG. 6 disposition andinserting medication dosage 40 through container mouth 32 into furthercompartment 34 (upper compartment) and (4) applying closure member 36 tothe container. Medication dosage 38 is typically a one-week dosage orother multiple day dosage. Medication dosage 40 is a one-day dosage.

The container bears a label with printed indication of the periodicityof taking and dosage to be contained in the upper compartment, e.g.,four pills to be taken one each six hours. The patient or patientcaretaker administers one pill by removing the closure member andwithdrawing such one pill from the upper compartment and replacing theclosure member. In the example under discussion, this procedure isrepeated at six hour intervals. If the medication has been properlyadministered, the upper compartment will be empty at the close of thetwenty-four period. If medication is present in the upper compartment atthe close of the twenty-four period, it is apparent to the patient orpatient caretaker that a medication administration error has occurredand correction may be effected by administrating the remaining contentsof the upper compartment to the patient.

Assuming either the propriety of administration of the medication orsuch correction in administration thereof, the insert is translated toits FIG. 12 disposition and a second one-day medication dosage iswithdrawn from the lower compartment and inserted in the uppercompartment. The closure member is reapplied, whereby the container isreadied for the second day of medication dispensing. It is to beappreciated that, with the closure member applied to the container, thecontainer may be inverted without transfer of medication from the lowercompartment to the upper compartment.

While the step of translating the insert is conveniently performed byuse of gripping member 22 of insert 10, it will be appreciated that thegripping member is optional. Thus, the loaded container may simply beinverted in uncapped state when the upper compartment is empty theinsert will slide by gravity to open the lower compartment.

Turning to the insert embodiment of FIGS. 13-17, insert 42 includesfloor 44 and separator 46, each secured to and mutually spaced byspacing structure 48. Open compartment 50 is defined between floor 44and separator 46. In this embodiment, compartment 50 is fullyperimetrically open, to be closed by the sidewall of a container intowhich insert 42 is inserted. Insert translating member 52 includes a tab54, hingedly secured to the upper surface of separator 46. As in thecase of the first embodiment, floor 44 and separator 46 are circular.

Insert 42 may be comprised throughout as a one-piece body of plasticmaterial molded into the illustrated configuration.

As in the case of the first embodiment, insert spacing structure 48 isselected to be of a height less that the height of the sidewall of acontainer into which the insert is inserted, such that a furthercompartment then exists atop separator 46, opening into the mouth of thecontainer, such further compartment being fully bounded by the containersidewall.

Various changes may be introduced in the disclosed preferred embodimentsand practices without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it isto be appreciated that the true spirit and scope of the invention is setforth in the following claims.

1. An insert for a medication dosage container having an open mouth, afloor and a sidewall extending from said floor to said mouth, saidinsert comprising a floor, a separator and spacing structure spacingsaid separator from said floor, said insert defining with said containersidewall a compartment for dosage containment when said insert isinserted into said container, said compartment being inaccessible whensaid insert is resident in said container.
 2. The insert claimed inclaim 1, wherein said compartment is accessible for dosage removal orinsertion upon movement of said insert such that said separator isdisposed outwardly of said container mouth.
 3. The insert claimed inclaim 1, wherein said insert floor and said insert separator aremutually spaced by a distance less than the spacing between saidcontainer floor and said container mouth, said insert defining with saidcontainer sidewall a further compartment for dosage containment whensaid insert is inserted into said container, said further compartmentopening into said container mouth.
 4. The insert claimed in claim 1,wherein said insert floor is coextensive with said container floor. 5.The insert claimed in claim 4, wherein said insert separator iscoextensive with said insert floor.
 6. The insert claimed in claim 1,wherein said insert spacing structure is disposed perimetrically of saidinsert floor and said insert separator.
 7. The insert claimed in claim1, wherein said insert spacing structure is disposed interiorly ofperimeters of said insert floor and said insert separator.
 8. The insertclaimed in claim 1, wherein said insert further includes a member forimparting translatory movement to said insert.
 9. The insert claimed inclaim 8, wherein said movement-imparting member is securedperimetrically to said insert separator.
 10. The insert claimed in claim8, wherein said movement-imparting member is secured to said insertseparator interiorly of the perimeter of said insert separator.
 11. Incombination: (a) a medication dosage container having an open mouth, afloor and a sidewall extending from said floor to said mouth; and (b) aninsert disposed in said container and comprising a floor, a separatorand spacing structure spacing said separator from said floor, saidinsert defining with said container sidewall a compartment for dosagecontainment, said compartment being inaccessible when said insert isresident in said container.
 12. The invention claimed in claim 11,wherein said compartment is accessible for dosage removal or insertionupon movement of said insert such that said separator is disposedoutwardly of said container mouth.
 13. The invention claimed in claim11, wherein said insert floor and said insert separator are mutuallyspaced by a distance less than the spacing between said container floorand said container mouth, said insert defining with said containersidewall a further compartment for dosage containment, said furthercompartment opening into said container mouth.
 14. The invention claimedin claim 11, wherein said insert floor is coextensive with saidcontainer floor.
 15. The invention claimed in claim 14, wherein saidinsert separator is coextensive with said insert floor.
 16. Theinvention claimed in claim 11, wherein said insert spacing structure isdisposed perimetrically of said insert floor and said insert separator.17. The invention claimed in claim 11, wherein said insert spacingstructure is disposed interiorly of perimeters of said insert floor andsaid insert separator.
 18. The invention claimed in claim 11, whereinsaid insert further includes a member for imparting translatory movementto said insert.
 19. The invention claimed in claim 18, wherein saidmovement-imparting member is secured perimetrically to said insertseparator.
 20. The invention claimed in claim 18, wherein saidmovement-imparting member is secured to said insert separator interiorlyof the perimeter of said insert separator.
 21. An insert for a medicinedosage container, comprising a floor, a ceiling and spacing structurespacing floor from said ceiling and defining a compartment between saidfloor and said ceiling and a member for imparting translatory movementto said insert, the translatory movement-imparting member being securedto an exterior surface of said ceiling.
 22. The insert claimed in claim21, wherein said insert floor is coextensive with insert ceiling. 23.The insert claimed in claim 21, wherein said insert spacing structure isdisposed perimetrically of said insert floor and said insert ceiling.24. The insert claimed in claim 21, wherein said insert spacingstructure is disposed interiorly of perimeters of said insert floor andsaid insert ceiling.
 25. The insert claimed in claim 21, wherein saidmovement-imparting member is secured perimetrically to said insertceiling.
 26. The insert claimed in claim 21, wherein saidmovement-imparting member is secured to said insert separator interiorlyof the perimeter of said insert ceiling.